7.6 Million Viewers Wash Up For 'Jersey Shore's Third-Season Finale

The third season finale of Jersey Shore Thursday night finished as the reality series' top-rated finale concluder among MTV's target of persons 12-34, earning a 7.3 rating in the demo and tallying 7.6 million viewers overall.

The March 24 telecast grew 20% in the demo versus its second-season finale and 52% compared to its season-one ender. Total viewership gained 25% over season two's finale and 58% over season one's, although it fell well short of the series top audience totals from earlier this season. Facing CBS and Turner Sports's coverage of the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship the past two weeks, the finale added 1 million watchers from the third-campaign's penultimate installment on St. Patrick's Day.

Jersey Shore wrapped up its third campaign with a series' best 7.7 average among the 12-34 set, up 35% over its season two (5.7) and 196% over season one (2.6). Jersey Shore, which next season will find the housemates visiting Italy, ranks as TV's top show in 2011 among its broad demo, according to network officials.

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